Freezing device power unit



March 15, 1 960 A. .1.` FREI FREEZING DEVICE POWER UNET Filed Aug. 22,1958 INVENTOR. Arf/zur J. Fre/ N I vw mf, m Om tw His Attorney mfm :$5:

United States Patent() 2,928,280 FREEZING DEVlCE POWER Arthur J. Frei,Dayton, Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, 'a corpration of Delaware Appltcation'August 2i, 195s, serial 1 6,1

s Claims. (el. melf- 368) to confine the freezable liquid in the motorso as toA guard against leaks thereof which, would cause the motor tobecome ineffective or inoperative to move its shiftable members and tiltwalls of partitionsV of the. grid. I n iceoperated motor unitsWhereinran, enlarged freezing liquid containing chamber and a chokeyportion therefor is ernployed to multiply or obtain an increaseddistance in the shifting movement of reaction members thereof away fromone another, such as is disclosed and claimed in my copendingapplication S.N. 737,250 iiled .May 23',

1958, entitled Freezing Device Power Unit,1 it4 has been a troublesome.and diicult tasl,y to provide a sealfor'the motor which would permit theincreased travel of the shit-table members thereofV without loosening ordamag-V ing the seal. rtherefore my present inventionis directed to anovel arrangementfor clamping a resilient Vsleeve to each of theshiftable reaction members of an ice motor I t is essential to continued2,928,280 Patented Mar. 15, 1960 ICC erred form of. the presentinvention is clearly shown.v In the drawings. Figurer 1 is a verticalsectional view of a tray of a freezing device. and a grid structure inthe tray equipped with an ice-operated motor having the presentinvention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the ice-operatedmotor of the present invention showing parts thereof intheir normalposition before liquid in the motor has expanded; and v Figure 3y is aview generally similar to Figure 2 and rshows parts of the motor shiftedaway from one another uponV freezing and expanding a body of Afreezableliquid therein. f.

The invention herein disclosed is generally applicable to a freezingdevice including a pan Vor tray having a movable walledk or partitioninggrid structure therein of the type'illust-rated in the Harvey D. GeyerPatent No. 2,576,591 datedrNovember 27, 1951 and more particularly to anice block maker Yshcjiwn in my copending application S.N. 737,249 tiled.May 23, 1958 entitled, Ice Making Apparatus, wherein a multiplied orincreased distanceof movement ofshiftable members of an ice motorisdesired or is specificallyrequired.A lSince my invention is directed toan improvement in the ice ,motor unit portion of the freezing device.illustrated in the Geyer patent orin .this portion of theV ice makingAapparatus shown in my copending applicationSlI.y 737,249 and since the'grid structure is fully describedin these prior disclosuresno elaborateor detailedfdescri'ption of the construction and operation of parts ofthe grid is herein necessary. In

f fact, Figure 1` of the drawings in the present application issubstantially a duplicate of Figure 2 in the Geyer patent with myimproved ice-operated motori-unit substituted for to provide a positiveand lasting sealfor the freezable.

liquid therein. j

An object of my invention is to provide an improved practicalice-operated power motorv capable of continued operation over alongperiod of time. n Another object of my invention is to provide a sealfor an ice-operated power unitl of a freezing device which does notbecome worn or damaged throughout long use of the unit. v

A further object of my invention is to providean ice-operated powermotor or unit for a freezing device with an improved seal for thefreezable liquid contained therein which does not interfere with thefreezing and expanding of the body of liquid and is secured to membersof the motor or unit such fashion that, the seal in, addition to biasingthe members toward oneanother while they are in their normal positionalso forms the sole means ofV returningthe members after they have beenshifted away from-one another. A

A still further and more specific object of is to lock fabric reinforcedoutwardly flared ends ofl a resilient rubber-like sleeve in a uniquemanner to shiftable members of anice motor whereby lengthwise stretchingor extension of the sleeve upon shifting the members in a direction awayfrom one another will not shear or break the connection or joint of thesealing sleeve with the members loose therefrom,

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference `being had to the.accompanying drawings, wherein a .pre-

my invention.

that shown by Geyer.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings the freezing device showntherein `Ycomprises a container pan or tray 10, having a bottom andupwardly extending and outf wardly diverging side and end walls, andagrid structure 20 disposed in tray 1 0 including partitionsorpartitioning walls dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality'ofrows or compartments. The compartments contain water placed in thedevice whichY is frozen into separated ice blocks under the influence ofa below freezing temperature produced by an evaporator of arefrigerating system Grid structure 20 comprises a main longitudinalpartition or wall 21, a series of spacedapart cross or transversepartitions or walls 22 elongated opening therein having suitableVdimensions as to receive and cradle an ice-operated motor unit,generally represented by the reference numeral 30, on grid 20constr'tuzte-dY as'hereinafterd'escribed and to which the presentinvention is specifically directed. Y

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawing the icemotor 30 in Figure'lincludes two telescoped reaction elements or members adapted to move orbe shifted relativeA to one another. One of these elements is in theform of a onepiece tubular or cylindrical member 31 having integral endportions 32 and 33 of different diameter with .respect to each other.The smaller end portion 33 of member 3 1 has a bore 34 therein and the.larger end portion 32 thereof is provided .with an elongated.cylindrical chainb-.er .36 axially alaaslbwith .here Se# Chamber S isdivided into an enlarged portion relative to its bore 34 and a reducedor choke portion provided by the inclined wall 37 which tapcrsfrom theenlarged chamber toward the bore. Thus chamber 36 is of a substantiallylarger diameter than the diameter of bore 34"and is directly oppositethe bore to communicate therewith by Way of tapered wall 37 which wallforms a choke' means or portion in the motor 30. A plug 39 seals theouter end of chamber 36 and a'pin 41 passes through a hole 42 providedin this plug and through an opening in an upstanding projection 43 onlongitudinal wall or partition 21 of grid Ztl (see Figure 1). Thissecures the one end of member 31 of motor 30 to the grid wall 21. Theother reaction member or element'45 of motor 30 has a plunger or piston46 formed thereon and slidably mounted within bore 34 of member 31 so asto be telescoped thereto. Plunger or piston 46 has its inner endnormally disposed immediately adjacent to the choke portion, wall 37, ofthe member 31 and forms a closure for the inner end of chamber 36. Theother end 47 of piston member 45 engages a part of actuating bar on grid20 and is preferably attached to ears 48 formed thereon by a pin or stud49 (see Figure 1) which-is passed through a hole 51 provided in endportion 47 of reaction member 45.

Cylindrical chamber 36 forms or lprovides an expansion compartment orchamber adapted to contain a freezable expansion fluid of any suitableor desirable character or composition such as water or preferably amixture of water and alcohol. The chamber 36 is to be filled with thefreezable liquid and then closed or sealed by plug 39 to confine thefluid therein after other parts of motor 3f) are assembled together aswill be presently described. The machined sliding fit of plunger 46 onreaction member 45 in bore 34 of member 31 is such that substantiallynone of the freezable liquid in charnber 36 leaks past the plunger orpiston. However some means must be provided to insure against or preventthe escape of freezable liquid contained in motor therefrom. To this endI provide means forming a seal between the telescoped reaction members31 and 45 which seal is capable of being extended lengthwise uponshifting the members away from one another and particularly to extensionthereof throughout the increased distance of travel of members 31 and 45outwardly of one another obtained by the larger diametered fluidexpansion chamber and its choke portion. The additional stretching orextension of the seal means in the presently disclosed motor over thatoccurring in prior ice-operated motors presents the problem of anchoringor locking a seal to the reaction members of the motor so that it willwithstand considerable stretching without tearing or shearing loose fromits mounting on the members. Therefore in accordance with the'presentinvention I provide an improved and novel arrangement for locking endsof a resilient seal sleeve to the reaction members of the iceoperatedmotor herein disclosed.

Each reaction member 31 and 45 in the present disclosure has a radialabutment 61 thereon disposed perpendicular to the length thereof andprovided with a groove 62 therein (see Figure 2). That portion of eachmember 31 and 45 adjacent and to one side of the abutment 61 thereon isthreaded as at 63 for the reception of a clamping cap-like screw in amanner and for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A resilientrubberlike sleeve or tube 64 carrying thereon metal washers 66 andoppositely disposed clamping cap screws 67 is assembled onto motor 30-by slipping one end of sleeve 64 over `the smaller end portion 33 ofmember 31. Plunger 46 on member 45 is then inserted into the bore 34 ofmember 31 and into the other end of sleeve 64. Sleeve 64 has thickenedends structurally reinforced with a fabric layer or the like insert 68molded therein and. is provided with a radial shoulder 69 spacedinwardly from its ends with the shoulders facing one another. Thethickened ends of sleeve 64 are each beaded as at 71 tol be tit)interlockingly received in the grooves 62 of the abutment 61 on thereaction members -31 and 45. The sleeve 64 is normally somewhat shorterin length than the distance between the abutrnents 61 on the reactionmembers when plunger 46 is moved its full distance in the bore 34. Afterassembling the parts, sleeve 64 with a washer 66 within each clampingcap screw 67 thereon, to motor 30 the clamping cap screws 67 aresimultaneously threaded upon the threads 63 of both members 31 and 45.This initially stretches'the sleeve 64 slightly so that it will normallybias` the reaction members against one another. Washers 66 provide ametal-to-metal sliding engagement of the inwardly directed portion ofclamping cap screws 67 therewith during rotation of the screws forpreventing binding of the clamping glands or cap screws to the sleeveand twisting or tearing of the sleeve 64 while tightly compressing thethickened ends thereof between the screws 67 and members 31 and 45against the abutments 61. The force created by stretching or extendingsleeve 64, upon movement of reaction members 31 and 45 away from oneanother, is absorbed by shoulders 69 on the sleeve which are disposedperpendicular to the applied linear force and the ends of sleeve 64 donot therefore tend to slip or be shorn loose from their connections orjoints with Vthe reaction members because these sleeve ends arereinforced to increase the rigidity thereof and are confined withinmetal parts of the motor. This type of connection or method of lockingresilient sleeve 64 to the reaction members of motor 30 has proven to befar superior to other joints or locking means with which I haveexperimented particularly in conjunction with an ice motor wherein amultiplied or increased distance of movement of members thereof isobtained as compared to and distinguished from the movable distance ofmembers of prior ice-operated motors.

Water is placed in tray 10 of the freezing device to such a leveltherein that motor 30 will normally lie adjacent to but out of contactwith the body of water. The freezing device is then inserted into afreezing chamber of a refrigerator and supported on a refrigerated shelfor support therefor therein so that heat is transferred through walls ofthe tray and grid to the support. The limited metal-to-metal contact ofmotor 30 with grid 20 aids in preventing the water or water and alcoholfreezyable mixture confined in the unit or motor from freezing untilafter all iceV blocks in the freezing device have been hard-frozen.After such hard freezing of ice blocks the freezable liquid mixtureconfined in chamber 36 of motor 30 gradually freezes and expands involume at a predetermined temperature below that at which the ice blocksare frozen. This expansion and increase in volume of the freezablemixture in chamber 36 is constricted by the tapered wall choke portion37 thereof and concentrated at a localized point in a linear directionagainst the end of plunger or piston 46. The expanding freezable liquidpushes plunger or piston 46 outwardly of bore 34 of motor 30 with atremendous force capable of overcoming very high resistance and at anincreased speed. The choke portion, wall 37, of motor 30 causes amultiplied or increased distance of sliding movement of plunger 46outwardly of bore 34 and consequently of member 45 away from member 31at a predetermined temperature. It is to be noted that stretching ofrubberlike sleeve 64 to extend same as shown in Figure 3 of the drawingcauses its wall intermediate the thickened ends thereof to thin out orbe reduced in thickness without severe or undue strain on the joint orlocked connection of the sleeve to members of the motor. This isaccomplished by virtue of the fabric reinforced end portions of sleeve64 being rigidly clamped in a confining manner to the reaction membersof motor 30 and by virtue of the force in stretching the sleeve beingapplied to and absorbed by shoulders disposed perpendicular to thelinear extension of sleeve 64. The lengthwise stretching or extending ofsleeve 64 increases its tension 31 and 45 toward one. another back intotheir normal position against each other as shown in Figure 2 aftermotor 30 has been operated andthe frozen mixture therein has absorbed`heat to thaw same and cause the liquid to be contracted within chamber36. Since plug 39 of reaction member 31 is secured, by the pin or stud41, to grid wall 21 and the other end of reaction member 45 is secured,by the pin or stud 49, to actuating bar 25 of grid structure 20 this bar25 is forced to move with respect to the stationary portion or member 31of motor or unit 30 as indicated in Figure 3 toward the lefthand end ofthe freezing device as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawing relative to thelongitudinal wall or partition 21 of the grid structure.` In other Wordsthe elongation of ice motor 30, or shifting of its piston-like reactionmember 45 away from reaction member 31, causes a relative slidingmovement between bar 25 and 'longitudinal grid wall 21. Sliding `of bar25 causes notches provided therein and fitting over an edge portion of?each of the transverse walls'or partitions 22 to succes-l sively engageand. tilt these walls one after another from end to end of the freezingdevice for progressively loosening'ice blocks in compartments of thedeviceA fromboth the tray 10 and grid 20 so that they may be readilyharvested from the freezing device as is fully illustrated and describedin the Geyer patent hereinbefore identied. The multiplied shiftingAmovement or increased travel of plunger 46 within bore 34 obtained bychoking, constrictying and concentrating expansion of the liquid inmotor 30 as more fully described in my copending application S.N.737,250 previously referred to provides a rapid or substantiallyinstantaneous complete relative movement or tilting of walls of the gridstructure throughout a prescribed arc at a predetermined temperatureafter ice blocks are formed in compartments of the freezing deice eventhough walls 22 are moved or tilted one after the other in succession.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that I have made an improvedice-operated motor unit by providing a practical seal for the uidconfined therein. My method of clamping and confining fabric reinforcedends of a resilient rubber-like sleeve seal to telescoped togetherreaction members of' an ice, motor is 'unique in that theforce ofextending the sleeve lengthwise is applied to shoulders thereon whichare disposed perpendicular to its length or perpendicular to the linearforce and this prevents slipping or shearing of the anchored .portionsof the sleeve away from members of the motor.

A more permanent and positive joint between members of the ice motor anda resilient extendible sealing sleeve is provided. The fact that thesealing sleeve is slightly stretched upon initially clamping same toreaction members of the .motor biases the members against one anotherinto their normal position and this initial stretching of the sleevecooperates with further stretching thereof whereby the sleeve forms thesole means for returning the members after they have been shifted awayfrom one another to thus eliminate the necessity of incorporating areturn spring in an ice-operated motor. All portions of the rubber sealsleeve are backed by rigid means while members of the motor `are intheir normal position and the likelihood of puncturingr or damaging thesleeve upon its being struck by foreign objects is reduced.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. An ice-operated motor having reaction members forced to be shifted inopposite directions relative to one another at a predeterminedtemperature, one of said rea, closed. inner end` disposed in a bore ofthe other .of said reaction. members., said. other reaction memberhaving a chamber therein beyond and', aligned with said bore con,-taining a freezable liquid exposed to the closed end of y said piston inthe bore, means surrounding' 'a part of said reaction members forming aseal therebetween for preventing escape of the freezable liquid fromsaid motor, said means comprising a resilient sleeve having an outerradial shoulder spaced from each end thereof and disposed perpendicularto the length of said sleeve in face to face relationship with oneanother, and means for locking said ends of said sleeve to said reactionmembers, said locking means including a rst cap-like screw threaded uponsaid one member hand having a portion thereof overlapping the shoulderat an end of said sleeve to clamp said sleeve end against an abutmentprovided on said one member and a second cap-like screw threaded uponthe other of said members and having a portion thereof overlapping theshoulder at the oppositeY end of saidvsleeve to clamp said oppositesleeve end against an abutment provided on said other member.

2. An ice-operated motor having reaction members forced to be shifted inopposite directions relative to one another at a predeterminedtemperature, one of said reaction members havingpa piston thereonprovided with a closed inner fend disposed in a bore of the otherof`said reaction members, said other reactionfmemberhaving a chambertherein beyond and aligned with said bore containing a freezable liquidexposed to the closed end of said piston in the bore,means'surrounding'a part of said reaction members forming afsealtherebetween for preventing escape of thepfreezable liquid from saidmotor,

n said means comprising a resilient sleeve having an outer radialshoulder spaced from each end thereof and disposed perpendicular to thelength of said sleeve in face to face relationship with one another,means for locking said ends of said sleeve to said reaction members,said locking means including a rst cap-like screw threaded upon said onemember and having a portion thereof overlapping the shoulder at one endof said sleeve to clamp said sleeve end against an abutment provided onsaid one'member and a second cap-like screw threaded upon the other ofsaid members vand having a portion thereof overlapping theshoulder atthe opposite end of sald sleeve to clamp said opposite sleeve endagainst an abutment provided on said other member, and said sleeve beingshorter than the distance intermediate said abutments on said memberswhereby the clamping of its ends thereto stretches same to normally biassaid reaction .members into engagement with one another.

determined temperature, one of said reaction members having a pistonthereon disposed in a bore provided in the other of said reactionmembers, said other reaction member having a chamber therein beyond saidbore con taining'a freezable liquid exposed to the end of said plston inthe bore, means surrounding a part of said reaction members forming aseal therebetween for preaction members having a piston thereon providedwith venting escape of the freezable liquid from said motor, said sealmeans comprising a resilient sleeve provided with beaded ends and outerradial shoulders each spaced from said ends in face to face relationshipwith one another,

means for locking said sleeve to said members, said lock-V ing meansincluding a first cap-like screw threaded upon one of said members andhaving a portion thereof overlapping the shoulder at an end of saidsleeve to clamp said beaded sleeve end into a groove in a radialabutment provided on said one member in one direction along the axis ofsaid motor, and said locking means also including a second cap-likescrew threaded upon the other .of said members and having a portionthereof overlapping the the beaded and shouldered ends of the sleeve arereshoulder at the opposite end of said sleeve to clamp said inforced bya fabrieinsert molded therein.

opposite beaded sleeve1end into a groove in Va radial Y L A.

abutment provided on said other member in another di- Refel'ellSCitdfnlhfdle 0f this Patent rection along the axis of said motor. Y 5 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 5, An ice-operated motor as defined by claim 4 wherein 2844 009 Buchana'n A July 22 1958

